Page 43 - Holyland Magazine - 2021 Edition

n the Crusaders sent the Carmelites back to
Europe, but they returned in the mid-17th
century.

Stella Maris

Not only is this monastery important to the
stories of Elijah and the Carmelites, its location
at the top of Mount Carmel’s western side
provides a wonderful view of the city and
port of Haifa. Interestingly, the name of the
monastery – which in Latin means “star of the
sea” – comes not from the magnificent view
of the Mediterranean revealed from that spot,
but from a 2nd-century interpretation of the
Hebrew name of Mary, Miryam, which contains
the word yam (sea) in Hebrew. The church,
which was built in its current form in 1853,
has a beautiful domed ceiling, with figures that
tell many biblical stories as well as those from
the history of the Carmelite Order. According
to tradition, Elijah once inhabited the cave
beneath the altar.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Dozens of nuns live in the charming Gothic-
style complex now in the middle of a residential
neighborhood of Haifa known as the French
Carmel. The nuns, who come from all over the
world, create beautiful handicrafts they sell to
visitors and also cultivate vegetable gardens.
The name of the convent derives from an
ancient altar dedicated to Mary at that site.

Muhraka

This is probably the most famous Carmelite
monastery, not only on Mount Carmel, but in

Statue of Elisha the the world, built in 1868 on the traditional site the Kishon River where Elijah ordered the
Prophet at the biblical where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. prophets of Baal taken to be killed. Reading
“place of the burning” The name of the monastery comes from the the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal
in Mukhraka (1 Kings Arabic word that means “burning” – recalling atop Mount Carmel is one of the most
18:38). Left: The dome of the fire that God sent down from heaven memorable moments in an Israel visit.
the Stella Maris Church that “burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the
in Haifa. Photo: www. stones and the soil, and also licked up the Nature on Mount Carmel
goisrael.com water in the trench” (1 Kings 18:38).
Much of the Carmel is a national park, with
In the monastery’s well-kept courtyard miles of hiking, cycling and walking trails.
stands a statue of Elijah the Prophet, sword In December 2010, a disastrous fire struck
raised, with his foot on the head of one the central and western slopes of the range,
of the defeated prophets of Baal, which burning more than 30,000 acres of planted
has become a symbol of the monastery. forests and natural woodlands. While it will take
A modest chapel is located on the ground many years to restore that part of the mountain,
floor, but most people head straight for Israel’s nature authorities are working hard to
the rooftop observation point, where on a rehabilitate the forest, and there are still many
clear day the view stretches from Elijah’s picturesque areas to see and enjoy.
homeland across the Jordan Valley – the
Mountains of Gilead – to the Mediterranean For information on visiting hours:
Sea where Elijah’s servant saw the cloud Stella Maris – Tel. 04-833-7758
that signaled the end of the drought, to Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Tel. 04-833-7384
Muhraka – Tel. 052-877-9686

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